A sit-in protest by the Pickup Owners’ Union against alleged abuses by the Pakistan Coast Guard entered its second day on Saturday, causing significant disruption along the Makuran Coastal Highway in Balochistan’s Gwadar.
The protest began on the M-8 CPEC Highway in the Talaar area, with demonstrators accusing the Pakistan Coast Guard of inappropriate treatment towards local traders. The Pickup Owners’ Union, joined by the Border Trade Union, is demanding that authorities address their concerns.
The roadblock has left dozens of vehicles stranded, including over 200 Shia pilgrims who had already been delayed at the Iranian border for four days before becoming caught up in the ongoing protest.
Pilgrims expressed their frustration with the situation, stating: “We’ve already been stranded at the Iranian border for four days, and now we’ve been stuck here for two more days with no help from the authorities.”
Late on Friday night, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Tabish Baloch arrived at the protest site to negotiate with the demonstrators. However, the talks failed to yield an agreement, and the protesters have vowed to continue their sit-in until their demands are met.
Protesters have accused the district administration of indifference, claiming that no serious efforts have been made to resolve the issue. As of now, there has been no official statement from the district administration regarding attempts to address the protest or the concerns raised by the unions.